incidente
/in-see-DEN-teh/
incident
An image depicting a minor disruption, or incidente, like a spilled drink.
incidente(noun)
incident
?an event, typically a minor complication or disruption
,occurrence
?a happening
disturbance
?a slight interruption
📝 In Action
Tuvimos un pequeño incidente con el coche, pero nada grave.
B1We had a small incident with the car, but nothing serious.
La policía investiga el incidente ocurrido anoche en el centro.
B2The police are investigating the incident that occurred downtown last night.
Después de ese incidente, todos estuvieron más atentos.
B1After that occurrence, everyone was more attentive.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun Rule
Even though 'incidente' ends in '-e', it is always a masculine noun, so you must use 'el' (the) and masculine adjectives with it: 'el incidente nuevo' (the new incident).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender Confusion
Mistake: "La incidente fue terrible."
Correction: El incidente fue terrible. (Remember to use 'el' because 'incidente' is masculine.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Implied Negativity
While 'incidente' just means 'event,' it usually implies something negative, complicated, or slightly disruptive, like a small accident or a disagreement.
This image visualizes an incidente as a procedural matter or side issue that causes a temporary detour from the main path.
incidente(noun)
procedural matter
?a legal or bureaucratic dispute or side issue
motion
?a formal proposal in a court
📝 In Action
El abogado presentó un incidente sobre la validez de las pruebas.
C1The lawyer presented a procedural matter regarding the validity of the evidence.
La corte debe resolver primero este incidente antes de continuar el juicio.
C2The court must resolve this side issue first before continuing the trial.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Context
In legal or highly official settings, 'incidente' refers to a specific, formal dispute that must be settled during a longer process, like a trial.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: incidente
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'incidente' to mean a small problem?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'incidente' always negative, like 'problem'?
It is usually negative or disruptive, meaning an unexpected complication or minor conflict. However, in formal contexts (like court), it simply means a specific side issue that needs to be addressed, which is neutral.
How is 'incidente' different from 'incidencia'?
'Incidente' is the specific event or happening (the car accident). 'Incidencia' is usually a count or rate, referring to how often something happens (the incidence of car accidents in a year).